JERUSALEM – The new chief of the ruling Fatah movement has sought an
alliance with Hamas in an effort to pressure the new Palestinian
leadership.

A report by an Israeli think tank asserted that Fatah chief Farouk
Khaddoumi has been preparing to establish an alliance against the
Palestinian Authority. The report said the alliance would include
Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

"Arafat´s Tunis-based, hardline successor as Fatah leader, is
striving to form a new center of influence with the cooperation of
radical Palestinian factions – including the Hamas and Islamic Jihad
leadership abroad – in order to serve as a watchdog on the elected
leadership," the report by the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
said.

The center, in a report authored by [Res.] Lt. Col. Jonathan Halevi,
said Khaddoumi represents a challenge to the new Palestinian
leadership in the aftermath of the death of PA Chairman Yasser
Arafat. That leadership has been composed of PLO and Palestinian
Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.

"The more that Abu Mazan embraces these militant Islamic groups, the
more he legitimizes them and undercuts his own position in the long
term," the report, entitled "Palestinian Priorities After Arafat,"
said.

The report said the Fatah military wing, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, has
not committed itself to follow Abbas. Al Aqsa has called for the
nomination of Fatah secretary-general Marwan Barghouti and Fatah
gunmen have shot at Abbas and his delegation in Gaza City in November
2004. The new PA leadership was not expected to rely on the security
forces for regime stability.